Overall Rating Awesome: 76% Worth A Look: 16% Average: 0% Pretty Bad: 4% Total Crap: 4% 1 review, 19 user ratings

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Wings of Desire

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by punkass

"Not a film as such. Genuinely a piece of art."

This film will not be everyone's cup of tea. My mate Paul preferred the Hollywood remake 'City of Angels', but he's an idiot who preferred 'A Bug's Life' to 'The Seven Samurai' and so can't be trusted. This has less to do with the so-called MTV Generation films and more in common with a piece of poetry. If that sounds appealing, you might just love this film.

Whilst City of Angels was a remake it has a considerably different story so don't worry if you've seen that - they just took the ideas and wrapped it round a mushy chick-flick. This is a film you'd only take your girlfriend to if you wanted her to think you were a really arty kind of guy.

For a start, ideas of pacing are all over the place, at some points I was wondering if there was actually going to be a story. Yet in time this film develops in its own dreamlike way, and envelops you in its mysterious charms.

The cinematography in this film is impeccable, and combined with Wenders direction it really makes the film. This is the only film in which I've actually heard people in the cinema gasp at the cinematography, at one unforgettable moment.

The leads are all proficient, yet the film really belongs to Peter Falk, otherwise known as Columbo. Playing yourself might be seen as an easy task, but Falk shows the talent that got him nominated for two Oscars, and reveals something that all fans of his should know (something I've always suspected!). I wasn't aware of the breadth of work this guy has done, it's almost a shame he'll solely be remmbered as Columbo (the film itself jokes about this).

Berlin itself plays a considerable role in this film. Made before the Berlin War came down, the cities character floods through. Oh, and the German name is Der Himmel uber Berlin, which plays on the fact that the word Himmel means both sky and Heaven in German. Just in case you cared.

It almost seems weird to review this here. It really is a case of art versus movie. This film is, however, unique and beautiful. I won't try and demand you all search this out, it'll only appeal to certain people. If your heads as up your arse as mine, then you'll fucking love it.

del.icio.us

link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=2497&reviewer=215
originally posted: 06/15/00 15:01:50

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User Comments

2/14/09 gds poetic and life affirming, simply fantastic 5 stars

10/15/07 fools♫gold all these sayings... 5 stars

8/07/07 ravenmad deep, poetic and human. 4 stars

8/22/06 Bitchflaps In essence, it echoes the trite, nauseating sentiments of It's a Wondeful Life. 2 stars

7/17/06 mark OH MY GOD! 5 stars

2/27/06 Indrid Cold Using stream-of-consciousness poetry for dialogue is impressive, but frequently baffling. 4 stars

10/13/04 Daveman Wings is so genuinely uplifting and empathetic, it's almost angelic in its own right. 5 stars

8/23/04 The Talking Elbow Not just a film, but a true mind-opening experience... And.. it has.. COLUMBO IN IT!! 5 stars

7/20/04 Ionicera excellent film; skip the sequel 5 stars

3/28/04 Windseeker A film that changed my life. 5 stars

1/12/03 Jac Brilliant 5 stars

11/19/02 Razumikhin intellectually stimulating AND kicks ass.if you dont like it then you're a brainless fuck 5 stars

6/10/02 R.W. Welch Notable for its singular other worldly aura; not recommended for realists. 4 stars

3/17/02 Drew D. Saur Probably one of the best movies ever made. 5 stars

12/10/01 maja a fantastic experience 5 stars

12/02/01 Monster W. Kung Very good. Check this out, not the pathetic remake. 4 stars

2/03/01 Alex Moir sucked bad had to quit and come back to it later 1 stars

2/03/01 b.t. Wenders brings religion, German existentialist journey and beautifully photographed 5 stars

3/22/00 Komo Ananda Diese kino ist sehr gut 5 stars

IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM, RATE IT!
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USA 23-Sep-1987 (PG-13) UK N/A Australia 02-Dec-1987

Directed by Wim Wenders Written by Wim Wenders Peter Handke Cast Bruno Ganz Solveig Dommartin Otto Sander Curt Bois Peter Falk Hans Martin Stier

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